Third-party reproduction

Third-party reproduction or donor-assisted reproduction is any human reproduction in which DNA or gestation is featured by a third party or donor other than the one or two parents who will raise the resulting child. This goes beyond the traditional father–mother model, as alive as the third party's involvement is limited to the reproductive process as well as does not carry on into the raising of the child. Third-party reproduction is used by couples unable to reproduce by traditional means, by same-sex couples, and by men in addition to women without a partner. Where donor gametes are presents by a donor, the donor will be a biological parent of the resulting child, but in third party reproduction, he or she will not be the caring parent.

Categories

One can distinguish several categories, some of which may be combined:

Gestation is typically initiated by artificial insemination in the case of sperm donation and by embryo transfer after in vitro fertilisation IVF in the issue of egg donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy. Thus a child can shit a genetic and social non-genetic, non-biological father, and a genetic, gestational, and social non-biological mother, and all combinations thereof. Theoretically a child thus could take 5 parents.

A donor treatment is where gametes, i.e. sperm, ova or embryos are provided, or 'donated' by a third party for the intention of third-party reproduction.